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How to insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes in Excel?

Supposing you receive a worksheet which needs you to modify data in a certain column. And after modifying the worksheet, you need to insert the modified timestamp to let others know which cells have been changed. How to deal with it? This article will show you method of inserting current timestamp when data in another cell changes in Excel as below screenshot shown.

Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes with VBA code

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Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes with VBA code

As below screenshot shown, you need to populate timestamp in column E if corresponding cells in column C are changed. Please do as follows.

1. In the worksheet you need to modify and mark with timestamp, right click the sheet tab and then click View Code from the right-clicking menu.

2. Then copy and paste the below VBA code into the Code window of the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window. See screenshot:

VBA code: Insert current timestamp when data in another cell changes

Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
'Updated by Extendoffice 20180830
Dim xCellColumn As Integer
Dim xTimeColumn As Integer
Dim xRow, xCol As Integer
Dim xDPRg, xRg As Range
xCellColumn = 3
xTimeColumn = 5
xRow = Target.Row
xCol = Target.Column
If Target.Text <> "" Then
    If xCol = xCellColumn Then
       Cells(xRow, xTimeColumn) = Now()
    Else
        On Error Resume Next
        Set xDPRg = Target.Dependents
        For Each xRg In xDPRg
            If xRg.Column = xCellColumn Then
                Cells(xRg.Row, xTimeColumn) = Now()
            End If
        Next
    End If
End If
End Sub

Note: In the code, number 3 means that you are going to modify data in column C, and 5 indicates the timestamp will be populated into column E. Please change them based on your needs.

3. Press the Alt + Q keys to close the Microsoft Visual Basic for Applications window.

From now on, when changing data in column C, the timestamp will be populated into corresponding cells in column E as below screenshot shown.

Tip. Date Picker. The Insert Date utility of Kutools for Excel helps you to quickly insert date with specified date format into selected cell. Please go to download the software freely if you need. See screenshot:

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  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Erich · 5 months ago
    Hi Crystal,

    Thank you so much for your help thus far, your code works perfectly, I changed one line so it changes when a specific value is added in a cell now I have another idea, it would be amazing if you could help.

    I want to track a manufacturing process. I have a drop down list where progress is selected as the product is manufactured. The code that I am thinking about goes as follows:

    When the product is completed Column L gets changed to "Completed" and Column M gets a time stamp, when the product is delivered Column L changes again to "Delivered" and then Column N gets a timestamp.

    Is this possible? Please let me know if I can send a screenshot if my message is unclear.

    Thank you so much, hope you can help.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Hannah · 5 months ago
    Many thanks for this - set it up yesterday and all worked perfectly. However I have updated cells today and the dates do no seem to update. I have also tried to duplicate the code on a second tab today and this is not working.

    Any ideas?
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 3 months ago
      Hi,
      Have you saved the workbook as an Excel Macro-Enabled Workbook?
      The code works well in my case.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    ajax · 6 months ago
    Hi Crystal,
    I am trying to create a function where If I update any Cell in H9:L9 in Sheet 1, timestamp in cell C2 in Sheet 2 should get updated.
    Now I need to do this on about 100 rows in Sheet 1( H10:L10, H11:L11) and update corresponding C3, C4....in Sheet 2

    Any help is greatly appreciated. Cheers.!
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Luis · 6 months ago
    5/15/19|1:41 PM|John Smith|125B-1|10000000|Equipment|Staff|5/15/19|2:43 PM|Staff

    The above post shows the data that is input into a row. I was seeking help updating the first 2 columns that contain a timestamp whenever the ID (10000000) column is populated. If possible could the timestamps also be removed if the ID is also removed? Concerning the last 3 columns (date|time|staff) could those timestamps get updated whenever the last column is populated with a staff name. I tried playing around with the code but my lack of knowledge with VBA only allowed me to do so much.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    JediTrader · 8 months ago
    Gents,

    It has been a month I am looking for a similar solution like this one. While the above solution seem to be OTM, I am using this for the stock market.
    So I have Column F where I have implemented a Buy/Sell strategy and the sheet continues to refresh every 1 minute. I have Column T where I want the time stamp based on the following conditions :

    (1) Column F - Signals a Buy or Sell
    (2) Column F - Changes from a Buy to Sell or Sell to Buy
    (3) Column F - Changes from a Buy/Sell to empty

    While the general solution that is available on the net seem to be working (excel formula), but when the data refreshes it punches the current time than the signal time. For e.g. If I get a Buy @ 9:15 hrs and if the current time is 10:30, I get to see 10:30 hours in the Column T (Signal time) and not 9:15 hours.

    Any assistance would be greatly appreciated.

    Warm Regards
    JT
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    spen · 9 months ago
    Would the timestamp functionality be bypassed if the excel file you're using is a refreshable?
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 9 months ago
      Good day,
      The code does not support connections data. Sorry for the inconvenience.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    SenthilKumar S · 9 months ago
    Hello Everyone

    Thanks in advance for your help.

    What should be code to update the current time on the cell in column X if there is a change in any cell on that row? For example any change in values on cells a2 to w2, then the time should be to updated in x2.


    Thanks Again.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Farid · 11 months ago
    Hi Crystal, this is really good, how can I get the timestamp change in each corresponding row when any cell from the range of cells in the respective row changes. For example, A2 should get updated with timestamp when any changes are done on second row between B2 to H2 and similarly A3 gets the timestamp when changes done on B3 to H3, and so on until the last row.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Sander · 1 years ago
    Adding the timestamp works very good and is very useful. However I receive an error when I delete a row, because the script cannot insert the timestamp in the row that does not exist anymore.


    Would be great if someone can advice how to solve this.
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 11 months ago
      Hi Sander,
      There is no error occur in my case. Can you tell me your Excel version? Thank you for your comment.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Jessica · 1 years ago
    I have a project I'm working on that I update regularly. It's mostly just for keeping track of my employee's information like phone numbers, drivers license expiration, etc. Since I update it so frequently, I want an automatic timestamp that rests at the top or bottom of my worksheet that will update with today's date everytime I update information ANYWHERE on the spreadsheet. I currently use A-N and 1-42 so I need a stamp around M40. How would that code look?
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      Tychabrahe · 1 years ago
      Open Developer and on your workbook select the Workbook and the BeforeSave event.


      In the sub put the code: Range("M40").value = Now
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Alec · 1 years ago
    Hi,


    Is it possible to alter the code so that any changes in multiple columns would generate a new timestamp in the same cell? I.e. I make an edit in anyone of cells A3, B3 or C3 and the timestamp updates just in C4?


    Also, is it possible to make the code apply only to a specific range within a sheet?


    Thanks
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 1 years ago
      Hi Alec
      Please try the below VBA code. Thank you for your comment.

      Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
      Dim xRRg, xRg As Range
      Dim xRgArray As Variant
      Dim xStrCell As String
      Dim xSCRg As Range
      Dim xStrResult As String
      xRgArray = Array("A1:C10")
      xStrCell = "A3, B3, C3"
      xStrResult = "C4"
      On Error Resume Next

      If Target.Cells.count > 1 Then Exit Sub
      For xFNum = LBound(xRgArray) To UBound(xRgArray)
      If xRgArray(xFNum) <> "" Then
      Set xRg = Range(xRgArray(xFNum))
      If Not xRg Is Nothing Then
      Set xSCRg = Null
      Set xSCRg = xRg.Range(xStrCell)
      xSCRg.Select
      If Not xSCRg Is Nothing Then
      If Not Intersect(xSCRg, Target) Is Nothing Then
      Set xRRg = xRg.Range(xStrResult)
      If xRRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
      xRRg.Value = Now()
      Exit For
      End If
      End If
      End If
      End If
      Next xFNum
      End Sub
      • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
        Blaze · 1 months ago
        Hey, hopefully you still see this!!! I'm using the code below for a timestamp update in C6 anytime C5 is updated. The problem is that when I'm in the rest of the worksheet, anytime I hit enter or tab, it jumps me back to C5. Any thoughts?

        Dim xRRg, xRg As Range
        Dim xRgArray As Variant
        Dim xStrCell As String
        Dim xSCRg As Range
        Dim xStrResult As String
        xRgArray = Array("C5:C6")
        xStrCell = "C5"
        xStrResult = "C6"
        On Error Resume Next

        If Target.Cells.Count > 1 Then Exit Sub
        For xFNum = LBound(xRgArray) To UBound(xRgArray)
        If xRgArray(xFNum) <> "" Then
        Set xRg = Range(xRgArray(xFNum))
        If Not xRg Is Nothing Then
        Set xSCRg = Null
        Set xSCRg = xRg.Range(xStrCell)
        xSCRg.Select
        If Not xSCRg Is Nothing Then
        If Not Intersect(xSCRg, Target) Is Nothing Then
        Set xRRg = xRg.Range(xStrResult)
        If xRRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
        xRRg.Value = Now()
        Exit For
        End If
        End If
        End If
        End If
        Next xFNum
        End Sub
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    bassel · 1 years ago
    Hi,

    This is exactly what I was looking for! However I was wondering if you can help me get it to work with a protected worksheet. It only seems to work on an unprotected one (when the timestamp updates due to a change in value as part of a formula, similar to Dennis' request).

    Thank you so much! Bassel
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 1 years ago
      Hi,
      This can also work on a protected worksheet. You need to format the changed cells and the timestamp cells to unlocked status in advance before protecting the worksheet. Please have a try again. Thanks for your comment.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Dennis · 1 years ago
    thanks so much for this, however the timestamp only changes if the value in the cell is changed "manually". If it's changed due to a change in another cell and the value changes as part of a formula, there is no timestamp. Do you have a solution for this? thanks! Dennis
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 1 years ago
      Dear Dennis,
      The code has been updated with the problem solved. Thanks for your comment.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Diego · 1 years ago
    Hi, This works perfectly if I manually change the cell, when I copy and paste information is not working. I'm trying to have this timestamp every time someone pastes new information. Rather than changing cell information one by one, the behavior I want to capture is when the data is pasted in bulk for multiple cells. Does somebody know what I should do?


    Thanks,
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Leslie · 1 years ago
    Thank you so much for this! I use scroll buttons to add 1 to my total every time I complete a task, but macros don't register changes to the buttons. After doing some more research I figured out how to assign a macro to my control buttons and now I can track my changes!!!! I was making it more complicated than it need to be, this is what I ended up with:


    Sub Timestamp()
    '
    ' Timestamp Macro
    ' Timestamp on scroll buttons
    '
    '
    Range("j2").Value = Now()

    End Sub
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Amelius George · 1 years ago
    I've got a database in excel that I need to keep track of what has been changed.
    Is it possible to modify the code so that if changes are made in sheet 1, it will duplicate the changed cell in sheet 2 and provide a time stamp beside it?
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 7 months ago
      Good day,
      Sorry can't help with that. Thank you for your comment.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Suresh Thangaiyan · 1 years ago
    Hi, can be done if any values are changed and the timestamp is updated only in a particular cell like A1
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 1 years ago
      Good Day,
      If you want to always display timestamp in cell A1 if any values are changed in a certain range. The following VBA code can help.

      Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
      Dim xRg As Range
      On Error Resume Next
      Set xRg = Intersect(Target, Range("B1:D4"))
      If xRg Is Nothing Then Exit Sub
      Range("A1").Value = Now()
      End Sub
      • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
        Farid · 11 months ago
        hi Crystal, this is really good, how can I get the timestamp change in each corresponding row when any cell from the range of cells in the respective row changes. Like A2 should get updated with timestamp when any changes are done between B2 to H2 and so on with A3, A4 etc.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Mary · 1 years ago
    What is the code if I want to timestamp several cells individually in the same worksheet?
    Example: Change in column 3, timestamp in column 5. Change in column 10, timestamp in column 11. Change in column 13, timestamp in column 14.
    xCellColumn = 3
    xTimeColumn = 5
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 1 years ago
      Dear Mary,
      The following VBA code can help you. Thank you for your comment.

      Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
      Dim I As Long
      Dim J As Long
      Dim xCols As Long
      Dim xSRg As Range
      Dim xRgEx As Range
      Dim xSRgArea As Range
      Dim xNextArea As Range
      On Error Resume Next
      Application.EnableEvents = False
      Set xSRg = Union(Range("C:C"), Range("E:E"), Range("J:K"), Range("M:N"))
      Set xRgEx = Intersect(xSRg, Target)
      If xRgEx Is Nothing Then GoTo ExitSub
      For I = 1 To xSRg.Areas.Count
      J = I
      Set xSRgArea = xSRg.Areas.Item(I)
      If xRgEx.Column = xSRgArea(1).Column Then
      xCols = xSRgArea.Columns.Count
      If xCols = 1 Then
      Set xNextArea = xSRg.Areas.Item(J + 1)
      If xNextArea Is Nothing Then
      GoTo ExitSub
      ElseIf xNextArea.Columns.Count = 1 Then
      xNextArea(xRgEx.Row).Value = Now()
      Exit For
      End If
      ElseIf xCols = 2 Then
      xSRgArea.Columns(2).Rows(xRgEx.Row).Value = Now()
      Exit For
      End If
      End If
      Next
      ExitSub:
      Application.EnableEvents = True
      End Sub
      • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
        Britni Smith · 8 months ago
        Can you share what needs to be updated to make it specific to another spreadsheet? For instance, changes in C timestamp in E, changes in G timestamp in I, changes in O timestamp in Q.
        • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
          W D · 7 months ago
          I simply strung the first code mentioned above together, changing all the variables from VAR to VAR1/VAR2/VAR3 etc
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    chia · 2 years ago
    I am creating a work sheet in Excel where I want to track Start and End time of a particular transaction using a timestamp. A column will also show the time duration. Please see picture below. Can someone help me? Image below.

    I found 2 VBA Codes that records time stamps. However, I don't know how to merge them so they will work in this sheet:


    Code 1 . It shows timestamp in "Start Time" column (B4) when you enter a transaction number in "Case ID" coumn (A4).


    Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    On Error GoTo Handler
    If Target.Column = 1 And Target.Value <> "" Then
    Application.EnableEvents = False
    Target.Offset(0, 1) = Format(Now(), "mm/dd/yyyy HH:mm:ss")
    Application.EnableEvents = True
    End If
    Handler:
    End Sub


    Code 2. It shows time stamp in "End Time" column (D4) if a selection from a dropdown in "Status" column (C4) is selected.


    Private Sub Worksheet_Change(ByVal Target As Range)
    Dim xCellColumn As Integer
    Dim xTimeColumn As Integer
    Dim xRow, xCol As Integer
    xCellColumn = 3
    xTimeColumn = 4
    xRow = Target.Row
    xCol = Target.Column
    If Target.Text <> "" Then
    If xCol = xCellColumn Then
    Cells(xRow, xTimeColumn) = Now()
    End If
    End If
    End Sub
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      crystal · 2 years ago
      Dear chia,
      Did not see your image. Please click the below Upload files button to upload your picture.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    november · 2 years ago
    how can we lock the time format.. cuz it updates everytime and inserts date and time.
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    eric · 2 years ago
    I am pasting multiple rows and columns worth of data (at one time, and always at the same time). i'd only like for the time stamp to display in one cell. in other words, whenever cell C9 changes (the top left corner of my data), display the time in cell A1.

    any help would be much appreciated!
  • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
    Abdul · 2 years ago
    Hi,

    The above formula will be useful for single cell time stamp update

    Ex: If we enter any data in 3rd cell, time stamp automatically updated in 5th cell.

    Please advice for multiple cell update.

    Ex: If we enter any data in 3rd cell, time stamp automatically updated in 5th cell and if we enter on 4th cell, it will update on 6th cell.
    • To post as a guest, your comment is unpublished.
      Tyler · 1 years ago
      I too am interested in this exact question. Have you found an answer? Will my commenting on this draw anyone else's attention to the question?!
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